Lib Dem DNA deletion plan would let criminals walk free

Hull North MP Diana Johnson has condemned Lib Dem plans, announced today at their Party Conference, to immediately delete DNA records of all people arrested but not convicted.

This would even include the DNA of those who had been suspected of a serious violent or sexual offence.

Diana Johnson MP said: "The Lib Dem policy to delete most of the records from the crime-fighting DNA database sets them against the law-abiding people of this country.

"DNA held on the database from people arrested and not convicted has been vital in catching murderers, paedophiles and rapists. DNA evidence has also freed innocent victims of miscarriages of justice.

"Of course I believe in a fair balance between individual liberty and tackling crime. But letting those suspected of serious sexual and violent offences escape justice and walk free on the streets of Hull is not a risk I am willing to take.

"The Lib Dems also call for the maximum time that police are allowed to hold terrorist suspects without charge to be halved from 28 days to 14 days. This would undermine our fight against terrorism.

"Lib Dems say that they do not want to sacrifice liberty in the name of security. Instead they would sacrifice the security of the majority for the liberty of the criminal minority. They forget that the most basic liberty is freedom from violent crime."

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